Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus found in Mississauga

07/31/2015 04:39 EDT
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Updated
07/31/2016 05:59 EDT

CBC

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Mosquitoes in Mississauga have tested positive for the West Nile virus, marking the first confirmed case in Peel Region this year.

The virus appeared in two batches of mosquitoes collected this week by Peel Region's Environmental Health department. One batch was collected near Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road East and the other batch was collected near Dixie Road and Dundas Street East.

"Other regions in Ontario reported positive batches earlier this summer, so it's no surprise that we have now found a positive batch here in Peel," Paul Callanan, Peel Region's director of Environmental Health, said Friday in a statement.

The positive test results add to the five other batches that have tested positive for the virus across Ontario. There have been three in Windsor-Essex, one in Haliburton-Kawartha-Pine Ridge district, and one in Hasting and Prince Edward Counties.

There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus yet this season, the statement goes on to say.

To keep safe, residents should wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing, pants and a hat to protect exposed skin from insect bites, use insect repellent and be sure to drain standing pools of water — including in pails, wheelbarrows and birdbaths.

Residents should stay indoors as much as possible at dusk and dawn, when mosquito activity is at its highest.